Surrey RCMP seeking assistance after assault in rural park

SURREY RCMP are looking for assistance from the public after a woman was assaulted while walking in a park in the southeast area of Surrey on Wednesday evening. Police are appealing for any further information that may lead to the identity of a possible suspect.

On September 13, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Surrey RCMP received a report from a woman who was walking her dogs on a trail in Buckley Park in the 19600-block of 48th Avenue. The middle-aged woman reported that a male had attempted to assault her. The woman was able to fight the male off and retreat to safety. The woman was not physically injured, however she was upset by the incident. The male was last seen leaving the area on foot.

The suspect is described as a white male in his late teens, 5’8” tall, with a skinny build, and chin-length, shaggy dark brown hair. He was seen wearing a black hoodie and black track pants with a white stripe down the leg.

The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit and Special Victims Unit are investigating the incident. Investigators returned to the park on Thursday to conduct inquiries and gather any other evidence that may have been left behind.

Police do not believe that this incident is related to the recent assaults on youth that occurred on September 8th and September 6th.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

While police continue their investigation, Surrey RCMP would like to offer a few safety tips for park users as the sun sets earlier through the fall and into winter:

Walk with friends when possible.

Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.

Phone home when leaving a friend’s house and say when you will be home.